Pirates reinstate Kang from restricted list, option him to Triple-A

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Friday that infielder Jung Ho Kang, who hasn't played in the majors since 2016 due to legal troubles, has been reinstated from the team's restricted list and optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Activating Kang from the restricted list means he is once again a member of the Pirates' 40-man roster. No corresponding move was needed to open the spot.

In December 2016, Kang was convicted of drunk driving for the third time in his native South Korea and received an eight-month suspended sentence. The conviction meant he couldn't play for the Pirates in 2017 as he was unable to secure a working visa to enter the United States.

Kang finally received a new working visa in April and was able to rejoin the Pirates organization at that time, while also issuing an apology for his actions. The Pirates stated the 31-year-old entered a treatment program, and Kang himself said earlier this month that he no longer drinks alcohol.

Related - Pirates' Kang owns up to DUI: 'I deserve' to be jeered

Since resuming his career with Pittsburgh, Kang has appeared in 11 minor-league rehab games - seven of them at High-A Bradenton and another four with Indianapolis - and put up a combined .952 OPS with three homers before his official activation Friday.

Kang initially joined the Pirates on a four-year, $11-million contract four years ago following nine seasons as a star in South Korea. Over 229 big-league games from 2015-16, he has hit .273/.355/.483 with 36 home runs, 43 doubles, and 120 RBIs. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2015.

His contract calls for him to earn a salary of $3 million this season, according to Cot's Contracts, along with a $5.5-million club option for 2019 that can be bought out for $250,000.